Chapter 43: Do You Like His Majesty?

Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Do You Like His Majesty?

Inside the main hall, someone started speaking to the Empress Dowager again, and the previously cold atmosphere warmed up once more.

Currently, the New Emperor had not yet taken control and therefore had not chosen new concubines. In the palace, apart from the newly appointed Empress, there were only three palace maids who had served the previous Emperor, now promoted to Cai Ni and Bao Lin. Among them, one palace maid who gave birth to the Emperor’s eldest daughter was promoted to a Sixth-rank Noble Lady, and there were no others.

The New Emperor would soon assume control, at which point new selections would certainly occur. The Empress Dowager, being the master of the harem, held the power to decide who could enter the harem.

Thus, many noblewomen in the hall were eagerly flattering the Empress Dowager, with several boasting extravagantly about their daughters’ virtues and talents.

Feng Qing discreetly observed everything in the hall, slowly focusing her gaze on the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager was truly a winner in life, not only noble but also remarkably young. Judging by her age, she was at most thirty-seven or thirty-eight, but owing to excellent maintenance, she appeared as fair-skinned and beautiful as someone around twenty-seven or twenty-eight.

Feng Qing reflected on herself and then looked at the Empress Dowager, letting out a heavy sigh, feeling dejected.

Since Feng Qing’s appearance, the Empress, Feng Yao, had not felt at ease. Seeing Feng Qing, she constantly felt that Feng Qing, like her, had been reborn, making her uneasy. However, upon closer inspection, Feng Qing didn’t seem to be reborn, and currently, the matter of swapping bridal chairs had not yet been resolved.

She must find a way to resolve everything, but Feng Qing refused to acknowledge the matter, while her mother, greedy for gain, had left such an incriminating hold, which was truly exasperating.

Feng Yao raised her head to glance at her mother at the lower end. Madam Jing’an, meeting her daughter’s gaze, understood clearly that she was blaming her.

She felt her heart constricted, pondering how she was simply striving for the good of Marquis Jing’an Mansion. Marrying off two daughters, with one as the Empress and another as a Princess Consort, required a substantial amount of silver. She herself did not have a dowry, depending entirely on the Marquis Mansion. Should she take out everything from the mansion as dowry? What about her son in the future?

Madam Jing’an touched her face lightly as she thought. Yesterday, she had been slapped several times by the Marquis. If not for using excellent palace ointment, she would likely have been unable to face anyone today. Even so, her face was still swollen. Luckily, she used the excuse of an allergy, so no one suspected.

The more Madam Jing’an pondered, the more annoyed she became, and finally, her hateful gaze landed on Feng Qing, blaming her, that vile woman.

The Empress also turned her gaze to Feng Qing, slowly turning and speaking to the Empress Dowager before leaving through a side door with two palace maids.

The Empress had been gone but a short while when another palace attendant came to invite Feng Qing.

"Regent Queen, the Empress invites you over to have a word."

Feng Qing’s eyes narrowed slightly, curious to see what schemes that woman might devise again.

"Alright."

Feng Qing followed with Si Qi alongside the palace maid into a secluded pavilion within Cining Palace.

Empress Feng Yao was already waiting inside the pavilion. Feng Qing approached with neither inferiority nor arrogance, offering a half-curtsy.

Although noble as an Empress, she was now, after all, the aunt by marriage to the Empress and thus unable to fault Feng Qing for a half-curtsy.

Currently, though, Feng Yao had no intention of finding fault; she simply stared at Feng Qing, trying to determine if she was reborn but could find no evidence of such.

"Sister, do you have feelings for His Majesty?"

Feng Yao suddenly spoke up, for if Feng Qing were reborn, regardless of whether she liked His Majesty or not, His Majesty would still be her husband, and it was impossible for her to show no signs at all.